The Return of Special Forces Queen novel Chapter 4

"Jeannie, that's enough!" Carter snapped.

But Jeannie refused to back down. "Am I wrong? She has nothing! She just took advantage of your heartbreak when Yolande left and manipulated you into marrying her!"-

Carter's face darkened. "Jeannie, are you done?"

Jeannie pouted, finally too intimidated to keep arguing.

Ursula stepped forward, gently patting her daughter's arm to comfort her.

Carter rubbed his temples and walked over to Jocelyn. His gaze fell on the black sandalwood box in her arms, draped in the national flag.

"Is that..."

"My parents' ashes," Jocelyn said flatly. "I brought them home."

A flicker of guilt crossed Carter's eyes. "I'm sorry. I really meant to go with you today, but Yolande's mother twisted her ankle, so I—"

Before he could finish, a shrill shriek cut him off.

"What?! Ashes?!"

Ursula glared at Jocelyn with visceral disgust. "How could you bring something so morbid into this house?!"

Morbid? Jocelyn stared at her mother-in-law in pure disbelief. "These are my parents' ashes. There is nothing morbid about them!"

They were fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for their country. They deserved absolute respect!

"I don't care whose they are, dead bodies are bad luck!" Ursula snapped violently. "Get out right now! I will not allow that creepy thing inside my home!"

Jocelyn gripped the urn tighter. "I am not leaving. This is my house too. Carter and I bought it together after we got married!"

Jeannie fired back defensively, "You only helped Mom because my brother has money! That's why the best doctors agreed to see her! And as for helping him build the company? He supported you the whole time! The company went public because of his genius, so stop acting like you get all the credit!"

Jocelyn ignored her, keeping her piercing gaze on Carter. "I just want to keep my parents' ashes in my home for a few days. Is that really too much to ask?"

Carter frowned. "Jocelyn, stop being unreasonable."

"What if I insist?" she demanded, taking a step forward.

Ursula stormed up to her, practically foaming at the mouth, and swung her hand hard, slapping Jocelyn across the face. "As long as I'm here, you aren't bringing dead ashes inside!"

Jocelyn stumbled back, the stinging blow echoing in the room.

Before she could regain her balance, Ursula shoved violently at the urn in Jocelyn's hands, trying to knock it to the floor.